United Way of Adams County seeks community input for strategic planning

QUINCY -- The United Way of Adams County is seeking to have members of the community complete a short survey as part of its strategic planning effort.

Executive Director Todd Bale said the organization launched its Vision 2021st strategic planning effort in November, and a task force comprised of board members, partner agency executives and staff is leading the effort.

"We just want to make sure as we plan the next three years that we get as many inputs from our community as possible," Bale said.

He said the United Way also is hosting meetings with several focus groups, which include donors, partner agency executives and the general public.

A plan along with action items will be complete by the end of June and presented to the board of directors.

"We just want to thorough about looking ahead to the next three years where we invest the community's resources and where we invest the board's time and attention," Bale said.

The United Way of Adams County has seen a five-year drop in aggregate contributions to its annual campaign with more than 1,000 people who previously contributed to the organization no longer donating.

The survey will ask participants about the glaring issues in the community that can be addressed and where awareness can be raised.

"It's been interesting to see the variability of answers across the board," Bale said. "Then we'll bring all that back April 6 when the task force meets again and try to look for commonalities. What are people telling us, maybe in different words, across all these answers?"

Early feedback has shown people have reported poverty as the top issue, which is not surprising to Bale, but substance abuse has also been one of the issues raised.

"That certainly affects poverty, it affects school attendance and it affects a lot of things," Bale said. "It looks like that will be a focus going forward based on the feedback."